RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, a Richmond project is bringing to life the story of a man who helped shape the nation’s first historically registered Black urban neighborhood.
At the corner of 3rd and Bates streets, the JXN Project has recreated Abraham Peyton Skipwith’s 1793 home, giving visitors a chance to step inside a story often left out of textbooks.
“Black history is often taught as this monolithic single narrative, so to think that Skipwith built this cottage in 1793 is extremely significant,” said JXN Project Curatorial Director Nigel Richardson.
Inside the cottage, a family tree tells the story of Skipwith, who was born into slavery and freed members of his own family. Artifacts and replicas, many based on his 1799 will, show a man who was not only free but the first Black homeowner in the area and a community builder.
“He has the same items in his last will and testament from 1799 as the founding fathers, from scotch carpets to gold and belt buckles to a bed,” said co-founder of the JXN Project, Dr. Sesha Joi Moon.
The will details items from furniture to a horse and buggy…